Responsible Party and Year Completed:United Nations, World Bank, and partners, 2021 (update in progress)
Status: In Progress
Contact:George Willcoxon – [email protected]
Executive Summary:
The Gaza Damage and Needs Assessment Plan, initiated after the 2021 conflict, aims to evaluate the extent of damage and identify immediate and short-term needs for recovery and rebuilding in Gaza.
The assessment, led by the World Bank Group, European Union, and United Nations, focuses on housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and productive sectors. It emphasises a ‘Building Back Better’ approach, ensuring resilience and sustainability in the reconstruction efforts.
The plan estimates damages between US$ 290 – 380 million and economic losses between US$ 105 – 190 million. Recovery and reconstruction needs for the first 24 months are estimated between US$ 345 – 485 million, focusing on the social and infrastructure sectors.
In 2024, the United Nations and partners are working on an updated damage assessment. The process will cover sector-specific evaluations and aggregate damage and loss assessments (including intangible losses like social capital and education), and funding requirements. The output will include technical evaluations across sectors, macroeconomic analysis, and considerations of gender and environmental impacts.
Short term priorities:
- Address urgent needs in housing, health, education, and social protection.
- Focus on municipal services, transport, water and sanitation, energy, and digital infrastructure.
- Support agriculture, industry, trade, and services to revitalise the economy.
Long term priorities:
- Implement the ‘Building Back Better’ approach to ensure that recovery efforts are resilient and sustainable.
- Facilitate economic growth, employment generation, and poverty reduction through improved governance, private sector development, and integration into the regional and global economy.
- Enhance transparency, accountability, and financial sustainability in Palestinian territories, along with modernising economic and administrative relationships.
Immediate Priorities / Proposed Next Steps:
- Address immediate recovery needs estimated at US$ 125 – 195 million within the first six months.
- Focus on the following 6-24 months with an estimated need of US$ 220 – 290 million, particularly in social sectors.
- Take steps towards democratic governance, notably elections, sector reforms, and improving the economic and administrative relationship between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.